Apparatus for coating fabrics



May 29, 1962 e. w. SHRECKHISE APPARATUS FOR COATING FABRICS I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 19, 1959 @l (0 George W Shreek/v/S6 INVENTOR.

4i tor/16y May 29, 1962 G. w. SHRECKHISE 3,036,551

APPARATUS FOR COATING FABRICS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19', 1959 I m S Q INVENTOR: Gas/-96 Vl/ Shreck h/sa G. W. SHRECKHISE APPARATUS FOR COATING FABRICS May 29,1962

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 19, 1959 INVENTOR. George W Shrec k h/se United States Patent Ofiice 3,036,551 Patented May 29, 1962 3,035,551 APPARATUS FOR CGA'IING FABRICS George W. Shreckhise, Weyers Cave, Va. Filed Oct. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 847,346 8 Ciaims. (Cl. 118-325) This invention relates to an apparatus for coating transfer fabrics such as typewriter ribbons and the like and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a decidedly improved means for coating transfer fabrics as disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,341,392 issued February 8, 1944, in that the flow of the coating liquid which is applied upon one side of the fabric to be coated is positively controlled at the point of discharge to the fabric, rather than depending upon valves in the liquid supply line and increase in pressure through pump-operated means for supply of the coating liquid to the fabric.

It is therefore the cardinal object of the invention to provide a new and novel construction of discharge nozzle for the coating liquid, the nozzle comprising an adjustable plate at the discharge end thereof which is adjustable to increase or decrease and control the exit flow to the fabric to be coated so that a proper coating of a desired thickness may be applied to the fabric and this without excessive pressure, which in many instances, cause undue penetration of the fabric to an extent that the opposite side of the fabric will be partially coated, which obviously would impair proper transfer of ink applied to the fabric.

It is also an important object of the invention to provide an apparatus embodying a liquid control nozzle which will insure surface contact only upon a ribbon or the like, which will eliminate complete saturation or penetration of the ribbon, and due to such surface contact, production will be materially increased.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for coating a fabric ribbon, such as a typewriter ribbon upon one side with a cellulose acetate solution, which comprises a reservoir for the solution having a discharge nozzle, the nozzle comprising an upper longitudinally adjustable plate having a ribbon guiding channel and a ribbon guide roller at the end thereof, the guide roller being of such diameter as to permit passage of the ribbon approximately on a line coincident with the lower side of the plate, there being a slidable adjustable plate beneath the upper plate and in parallel relation thereto, which plate is longitudinally adjustable with respect to the upper plate as well as the periphery of the ribbon guide roller whereby the point of surface contact of the solution upon the ribbon can be controlled.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a discharge nozzle having a fabric guide roller, the respective bearing ends of which are provided with an eccentricity permitting adjustment and securement of the roller to a desired adjustment, so as to accommodate fabrics or ribbons of different thicknesses, the discharge nozzle having adjusting means which are separately adjustable to provide proper surface contact of the fabric or ribbon.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the character described wherein a vari able speed drive for the take-up reel for the coated ribbon and flow control of the acetate solution is synchronized in a manner to readily adjust the apparatus for efiicient operation at various speeds, which is highly desirable in the coating of comparatively thin or thick ribbons, as well as in the take-up of the ribbon after coating thereof.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein,

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of the fabric coating apparatus, taken on the line 1-1 of FIGURE 2, illustrating the relative positions of the various mechanisms.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof, taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through the fluid discharge nozzle, illustrating the relative positions between the upper fixed, yet adjustable portion of the nozzle, the lower adjustable plate thereof and the ribbon guide roller.

FIGURE 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the ribbon guide plate and support for the ribbon guide roller.

FIGURE 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6--6 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken on the line 8--8 of FIGURE 6.

It should be understood that the invention is susceptible to use in coating fabrics or ribbons of various struc tural characteristics, but in describing the structure here in presented, the description will be directed specifically to the coating of typewriter ribbons.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly FIGURES 1 and 2, there is shown a coating machine generally indicated by the reference character 10 which in the present instance, comprises a substantially horizontal platform 11 which may be supported by any number of support legs 12. The platform portion is of generally elongated form, beneath one end of which there is suitably secured a reservoir or tank 13, of V-shaped formation, the lower part of which is formed as a cylinder 14 having a liquid inlet opening 15, permitting passage of liquid from the reservoir to the cylinder. The ends of the cylinder are closed by internally threaded plugs 16 and 17, the plug 16 having an axial bearing for one end of a shaft 18, While the plug 17 is formed with a cylindrical axial bore for through passage of the shaft 18 for mounting of a pulley 1% on the other end thereof. That portion of the shaft 18 between the plug 17 and pulley 19 is provided with any suitable bearing 21 and packing gland 21, the latter effecting liquid tight joint between the shaft 18 and the plug 17. The shaft 18 is provided with a helical vane worm 22 which under rotation will transfer liquid from the reservoir 13 to a supply tank 23 as will now be described.

The cylinder 14 is formed with a liquid outlet 24 adjacent the plug 17, to which there is connected suitable fittings 25 and 26 and a flow control valve 27. The fitting 26, including a pipe 27 is suitably connected in an upper portion of the reservoir 23, so that under rotation of the worm 22 liquid will be elevated to the reservoir without developing pressure therein.

To effect rotation of the pulley 19 and associated shaft 18 and worm 22, a rotary drive disk 28 suitably mounted in the platform is employed, the disk being driven by means of a pulley 29 and belt 31 from a suitable motor, not shown.

The platform 11 also mounts a standard 31, the upper end of which embodies an elongated bearing 32 in which a shaft 33 is rotatably journalled, one end of the shaft extending inwardly over the drive disk in right angular alignment with a center bearing 34 of the disk, the opposite end of the shaft having a pulley 35 in alignment with the pulley 19, the about these two pulleys there is trained a belt 36. The shaft 33 mounts a drive roller 37 of a diameter such as to contact the surface of the drive disk 28. The drive roller 37 is arranged for variable adjustment upon the shaft 3'3 to effect an increase or decrease of speed of rotation of the pulley 35. This adjustment may be made by loosening the bolt 37 and moving the roller 37 to a desired position upon the shaft 3 3, after which the bolt may be tightened. Thus upon rotation of the drive disk, the shaft 1 8 and worm 22 will be driven to convey liquid without pressure from the reservoir to the'supply tank 23.

The supply tank 23 is of generally pyramidal formation, thus forming a reduced discharge port 38 opening upon a circular housing 39 in which there is rotatably mounted an impellor 40 (see FIGURE 1). The impellor 40 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades 41, the forward face of the blades being somewhat arcuate shaped, thus insuring positive and continuous feed of the cellulose liquid to the coating mechanism presently to be described.

The impellor 40 is keyed upon a shaft 42, the shaft extending horizontally outward from the housing in the direction of the drive disk 28. The extended portion of the shaft 42 is provided with an elongated key 43 for slidably receiving a sleeve 44 of a universal joint 45. A shaft 46 of the universal joint is of a length to extend inwardly upon the drive disk to a substantial distance for mounting of a friction drive roller 47 which is in contacting engagement with the drive disk.

It is essential that the speed of rotation of the impellor 40 be made variable and in the present instance, this is accomplished by shifting the drive roller 47 inwardly or outwardly upon the surface of the drive disk 28, and in the present instance, this is accomplished by means of a lever 48 and interconnected parts as will be now described, attention being directed particularly to FIG- URE 2.

The shaft 46 has a sleeve 49 loosely mounted thereon positioned between a pair of fixed collars 50, the sleeve 49 being provided with a pin 51 which is slidable in an elongated slot 52 formed in an arm 53 which is an integral part of the lever 48, the latter being pivotally mounted upon an upstanding bracket 54 which has a segmental rack 55. A spring-pressed pawl 56 is complemental to the teeth of the rack 55, the pawl being operable by means of a hand grip 57. From the foregoing, it will be seen that when the pawl 56 is released from engagement with the teeth of the rack, the shaft 46 together with the drive disk 47 may be shifted laterally to position the disk 47 at a desired contact point upon the surface of the drive disk 28 and thus obtain the proper speed of rotation of the impellor 40.

As has been stated, it is a most important object to provide a positive, controlled discharge of the coating liquid upon one side of the fabric which is to be coated, and to attain this end, a nozzle generally indicated at 58 is employed and which will now be described, reference being had to FIGURES l, 3, 4 and 5.

The impellor housing 39 has a planiform base 59 having seating engagement in opposed channels 60 which are formed in the upper wall of an elongated bed 61, the base 59 being suitably bolted within the channels 60 by means of bolts 62 and may be additionally fixed to the bed by bolts 63. Attention is now invited to FIGURE 4 wherein it will be seen that the bed 61 comprises spaced side walls 64 providing a longitudinal passage 65 and at a suitable distance below the channels 60, the side walls 64 are each formed with a longitudinally extending seat 66 arranged in opposed relation for slidable support of 4 an adjusting plate 67, the plate being of less length than the seats to permit adjustment of the plate forwardly and rearwardly as will be required.

The rear ends of the side walls 66 are closed by means of a plate 68, the plate also being secured to the turbine housing 39 for additional rigidity. Thus the bottom wall of the bed, the side walls 64 and the plate 68 form a trough-like member, the forward end 69 of which opens into the reservoir 13.

A shaft 70 is rotatably journalled in the upright walls 64, extending transversely thereacross, and has fixed thereto a gear 71, the shaft extending beyond the Walls 64, upon one end of which there is rigidly secured a knurled head 72, while the opposite end is threaded to receive a threaded nut 73.

The underside of the plate 67 is provided with a rack bar 74 which is of a desired length and extending longitudinally of the plate, the teeth of the rack bar being adapted to mesh with the teeth of a gear 71, and thus by loosening the nut 73 frictional contact between the hub 75 of the gear and the adjacent wall will be reduced and the knurled head 72 may rotate the shaft and associated gear to advance or retract the plate 67 as will be necessary in the adjustment of the nozzle, as will be described.

With reference to FIGURES 4 and 5, it will be seen that the base 59 of the nozzle 58 consists of a pair of elongated bodies 76 of identical formation having arcuately formed forward seats '77 and concentrically formed seats 78, the seats 77 providing free rotation of a ribbon or fabric guide roller 79, while the seats 78 support a shaft 80 of the guide rollers. As clearly shown in FIG- URE 5, the bodies 76 are integrally connected by a horizontally disposed planiform wall 81 of a length extending from the rear, forwardly and terminating approximately at the medial length of the body members 76, thus permitting adjustment of an upper control plate 82, as will be described. As best seen in FIGURE 4, the wall 81 occupies a horizontal position with respect to the body members 76 so as to be spaced above the adjusting plate 67 when in assembled relation thus forming a passageway '83 which is in open communication with the outlet 84 of the turbine 39.

The inner opposed faces 85 of the body members 76 are formed with a guideway 86 for slidably receiving a tongue 87 formed integral with and extending longitudina-lly of the upper control plate 82 and by virtue of this construction, the plate may be adjusted inwardly and outwardly of the base 59; and in order to maintain a desired adjustment of the blade, the plate 81 is formed with a threaded opening 88 which is in alignment with an elongated longitudinally extending slot 89 formed through the control plate and extended through said slot there is a set screw 90 threadedly engaged in the opening: 88. As best seen in FIGURE 3, the underside of the; blade 82 is undercut as at 81' to accommodate the plate; 81. The forward edge or control lip of the blade 82 isv of tapered formation as indicated at 2 so that the forward edge of the blade may be brought into close prox-- imity to the surface of the ribbon or material being; coated, thus insuring even and smooth passage of the. material beneath the roller 79.

Inasmuch as various widths of ribbons will be coated in the present apparatus, an individual base 59 will be employed for each ribbon, the base differing only in thewidth of the control plate 82 and channel 83, the base being readily interchangeable upon removal of the bolts. 62.

Re novably secured in the forward end of the plate 67, there is a liquid control plate 91, the upper terminal end 93 of which is arouately curved toward the terminal end of the ribbon control lip of the plate 82.

in order that a ribbon may be properly fed in advance of the liquid discharge nozzle 58, a suitable ribbon feed and takeup means is employed which construction is clearly shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, attention being first invited to FIGURE 1, wherein a suitable overhead support 94 is shown and to which suitable suspension brackets 95, 96 and 97 are secured for their respective purposes. A fabric supply reel 93 being rotatably mounted in the bracket a fabric take-up reel 99 supported in the bracket 96 and since the take-up reel 99 must be driven, a pulley 101i is secured to the reel 99, driven by means of a belt 101 guided by means of pulleys 1G2 supported by the bracket 97.

Now tracing the movement of the ribbon 163 from the supply reel 98 (see FIGURE 1) the ribbon passes between the ribbon control plate 82 and under roller 79, thence upwardly and above a spring tensioned roller 104 mounted upon a cross arm 105 of a fixed upright standard 1116. From the roller 194 the ribbon passes beneath and partially around a second spring tensioned roller 107 mounted upon a cross arm 1G5 and from said last roller the ribbon passes to the take-up reel 99.

The drive for the take-up reel 99 is obtained from the rotating drive disk 28 (see FIGURE 2) and in the present instance comprises a friction disk 1% which is secured upon a shaft 169, the latter being slidably and rotatably supported in a sleeve 110 carried by a right angularly disposed extension 111 of a rod 112 which is rigidly secured to a plate 113 (see FIGURE 7) for a purpose presently to be described.

- Intermediate of the length of the shaft 109, a sleeve 114 is mounted to the lower end of the bracket 115 by means of a pin 116 extended through an elongated slot 117. The slot 117 permits longitudinal forward and rearward movements of the shaft 109 to vary the speed of rotation of the shaft which will be required to accommodate the increase in the diameter by the take up of material upon the take-up reel 99.

The rod 112 is slidably supported at the rear end by a bracket 118, the outer end of the rod having a stop collar 119 adapted to engage the bracket in one direction of movement of the rod and upon the opposite side of the bracket a helical spring 120 is positioned upon the rod, the spring being interposed between the bracket and an adjustable collar 121 for adjusting the tension of the spring.

The shaft 109 is suitably supported in and slidable through spaced bearings 199' and between these bearings there is secured a pulley 122 aligned with the pulley 102 and receives the belt 1111 to effect the driving of the takeup reel.

Attention is now invited to FIGURE 7 of the drawings wherein it will be seen that the rod 112 is welded to plate 113, which is in movable contacting engagement with the bracket 115 as indicated at 123. A small gear 124 is suitably secured to the bracket 115 positioned opposite the rod 112, the gear 124 being in mesh with a segmental gear 129, as will be explained, and said gear and bracket being pivoted on plate 113 as at 124'.

In order that longitudinal movement may be imparted to the rive shaft 199, a feeler roller 125 (see FIGURE 1) adapted to contact fabric on the take up reel 99 is employed mounted upon an arm 126, the lower end of the arm being keyed to a shaft 127 as at 128. The shaft 127 also pivotally mounts on the plate 113, the segmental gear 129 which is keyed to the shaft as at 136; the segmental gear and upper end of the plate 113 being maintained in spaced relation by means of a bushing 131, and I the assembly of the parts upon the shaft is accomplished by nuts 132 upon respective ends of the shaft.

As clearly shown in FIGURE 2, the drive shaft 109 and rod 112 occupy positions to one side of the take-up reel 99 and therefore the arm 126 is of such length and formation as to present the feeler roller 125 for proper peripheral contact with fabric upon the take-up reel.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that as the fabric builds up on the take-up reel 99, the arm 126 will be caused to move in a direction away from the reel, and

6 since the lower end of the arm 126 is keyed to the shaft 127 a slight rotation of the shaft within the bearing '131 is effected imparting a corresponding movement to the segmental gear 129, causing a swinging movement of the bracket 115, due to intermeshed engagement between the teeth of the segmental gear 129 and fixed gear 124. The movement of the rod 112 will be in a direction to the right as seen in FIGURE 1 to compress the spring 120; the lever 126 moving toward the left producing a swinging movement of the bracket 115 to the right which will impart movement of the drive shaft 1119 and friction wheei 16-8 to the right with consequent reduction of the speed of rotation of the take-up reel 99. A counterweight indicated at W is associated with the lower end of the bracket 115 to insure smooth and positive movement of the parts under operation.

The friction drive roller 108 may be lifted from the drive disk 28 for adjustment purposes or the like, in the provision of a pawl and ratchet 133 mounted on the bracket 118, a cable 134 being connected between the handle 135 of the pawl and the plate 113.

The mounting of the ribbon guide roller 79 will now be described, attention being directed to FIGURES l and 2, particularly. A frame generally indicated at 136 is employed and comprises a pair of side rails 137 connected in spaced apart relation by a shaft 138 supported in upright bearings 139 carried by the platform 11, while the opposite end of the rails are connected by the shaft 85) of the guide roller 79. The ends of the rails 137 opposite the guide roller 79 are upwardly inclined and terminate at a point above the shaft 138 and between the upper inclined ends of the rails and a lower portion of the platform 11, helical springs 140 are secured to maintain a spring tension on the rails to yieldably retain the roller 79 and shaft 80 in their respective seats 77 and 78 of the flow control nozzle 58.

A doctor blade 141 is employed in conjunction with the deposition of coating to the ribbon or fabric being treated and in the present instance, comprises a base plate 142, the rear end of which is supported by a semi-circular bearing 143 and in order that the base may be adjusted in forward and rearward directions with respect to the liquid discharge nozzle 58, the base plate 142 is provided with a bearing bar 144 extending transversely of the base, and intermediately of the length of the bar a threaded opening is formed for reception of a threaded adjusting rod 145 rotatably supported in a transverse bar 146 (see FIGURE 1), the rod 145 being rotated by means of a knurled head 147.

Intermediately of the length of the base 142, suitable means 148 are employed for maintaining a fixed adjustment of the base plate 142, and there is also provided a cam means 149 beneath the forward end of the base plate 142 for obtaining the proper relationship between a blade 150 and ribbon or fabric passing under the guide roller 79. The blade 151) is positioned above the forward end of the base plate 142 and is pivotally mounted in suitable bearings 151 so that the blade may be rocked upon the bearings 151, against the adjustable tension of spring means indicated at 152.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 6 and 8, for an understanding of the construction, mounting and adjustment of the ribbon guide roller 79. As previously stated, the shaft 819 is rigidly fixed in respective ends of the parallel side rails 137 for support of the ribbon guide roller and as clearly shown in FIGURE 8, the roller 79 is positioned between a pair of spaced bearing members 153, each having an annular boss 154 forming a bearing for respective ends of the roller 79, and in addition a ball race 155 is employed between the roller and the shaft 80' to insure free rotation of the roller. The bearing members 153 are each formed with a peripheral eccentricity as at 156, so that the bearings may be adjusted with respect to their respective seats 77 to vary the location of the roller 79 with respect to the flow of coating liquid through the passageway 33, which adjustment is necessary to accommodate varying thickness of ribbons or other fabrics. The setting of the bearing members may be determined by use of a suitable gauge (not shown) and the bearings may be secured fixedly to the shaft 80 by respective screws 157.

In operation of the apparatus, it will be understood the the coating liquid in the reservoir 13 is transferred to the supply tank 23 and from the tank to the channel 33 by means of the impeller 4d, the speed of rotation of the pump associated with the reservoir being previously determined by the adjustment of the drive roller 37 upon the friction drive disk 28; the speed of rotation of the liquid impeller 40 being obtained through adjustment of the drive roller 37 upon the drive disk 28 and likewise, the speed of the take-up reel 99 is obtained through proper positioning of the drive roller 108 upon the drive disk 28; and that the drive disk 28 is rotated through a suitable motor (not shown).

The adjustment of the variable speeds of the several mechanisms, is essential to the controlled discharge of coating liquid to the particular fabric being coated, as Well as the required thickness or thinness of the coating to be applied, although the latter is principally obtained by adjustment of the guide roller 79, the control plate 82 and control plate 91.

We will assume that a typewriter ribbon of a given thickness is to be coated and the guide roller 79 is to be adjusted to provide the proper clearance between the roller and the forward end of the doctor blade 150. The set screws 157 will be loosened so as to permit the bearings 153. to be rotated about the shaft 80, and due to the eccentricity 156 of the bearings, the roller 79 may be brought into close or greater spaced relation with respect to the doctor blade 15 which spacing can be deter mined by the use of a suitable thickness gauge. At the proper setting of the bearings 153 they are secured in such position by tightening the screws 157.

With the ribbon 103 or other fabric trained partially around the roller 79, the control plate 82 is adjusted to present the tapered portion 92 into close proximity of the surface of the ribbon passing about the roller, so that the forward edge lightly contacts the ribbon to insure smooth passage of the ribbon about the roller. Now, in order that a proper amount of coating liquid shall be supplied to the exposed surface of the ribbon on the roller, the adjusting plate 67 must be advanced or retracted to present the control plate 91 at such position as to present the terminal end 93 thereof at a desired point of discharge of liquid upon the ribbon. This is accomplished by means of the rack 74 and gear 71, as has already been explained. If the control plate 67 is advanced as indicated in dotted lines (FIG. 3) a greater surface contact is provided between the ribbon and the liquid discharged through the channel 83, than where the plate 67 is retracted to the position shown in full lines.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the coating fluid is not discharged from the nozzle under pressure such as to penetrate the fabric and that there is strictly a surface contact between the liquid and the fabric of the ribbon which is controlled, and while I have shown and described a preferred form of the apparatus, this is by way of illustration only, and I consider as my own all such modifications in construction as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for coating transfer fabrics upon one side thereof comprising means for positive control of liquid discharaged upon the fabric at the point of discharge of the coating liquid, said control comprising a source of liquid supply, a nozzle, said nozzle including a channel in communication with the liquid supply, said channel being defined by upper and lower adjustable plate members, a ribbon guide roller in advance of the liquid discharge end of said channel, the lower plate member forming the channel being manually adjustable to position the terminal end thereof to vary the point of dis charge of liquid upon the fabric traversing said guide roller.

2. The structure of claim 1, in which said lower plate member includes means for maintaining adjusted positions.

3. Apparatus for coating transfer fabrics upon one side thereof comprising a friction drive disk; a take-up reel and a pump means operatively connected with said friction drive disk and being separately, selectively adjustable to variable speeds, a source of liquid supply associated with said pump means, a liquid supply nozzle, an impeller operatively connected with said pump means and said nozzle, said nozzle having a liquid conducting channel defined by upper and lower adjustable plate members, a ribbon guide roller in advance of the discharge end of said channel, means for feeding a fabric to be coated partially around said guide roller in the passage of the fabric to said take-up reel, the lower plate of said nozzle being adjustable to position the terminal end thereof to desired positions beneath said fabric on the guide roller to vary the degree of surface contact engagement between the liquid and the fabric.

4. A nozzle for controlling the surface contact of a coating liquid upon one side of -a ribbon comprising a body member having a medial longitudinal guideway, a semi-circular recess upon opposite sides of said guide way for support of a ribbon guide roller, a plate member adjustably supported in said guide way and having a tapered forward end for light contacting engagement with the ribbon passing about said guide roller, a second plate adjust-ably mounted beneath and spaced from said first named plate defining a channel, a liquid impeller in communication with said channel, and said second plate being adjustable to position the terminal end thereof to desired positions beneath the ribbon passing under said guide roller to vary the degree of surface contact engagement between the liquid and the fabric of the ribbon.

5. A nozzle for controlling the surface contact of a coating liquid upon one side of a ribbon comprising a body member having a medial longitudinal guide Way, one end of said body member having an arcuate seat and a concentric seat at opposite sides of said guide way, a ribbon guide roller having a shaft and a bearing member at the ends of said ribbon guide roller, said arcuate seats providing support for respective bearings of a ribbon guide roller and said concentric seats forming support of the shaft of the guide roller, an adjustable ribbon contacting blade mounted in said guidew-ay and a plate slidably mounted beneath and spaced from said ribbon contacting blade defining a fluid channel, said plate being adjustable to present the terminal end thereof at varying positions beneath a ribbon passing about said guide roller.

6. The structure of claim 5, wherein the outer face of the bearings of the guide roller are formed with an eccentricity for varying the space between the guide roller and the ribbon contacting blade and means for securing the bearings to the shaft of the guide roller.

7. Apparatus for coating transfer fabrics upon one side thereof comprising a rotary impeller and housing therefor, said housing having an upper horizontal extension for rotatable support of a fabric guide roller, an elongated bed for support of said housing, said bed being defined by side walls and a bottom wall and provid ing longitudinal, horizontally extending seats, said seats being positioned a distance below the upper horizontal extension of the housing, a. plate member slidably supported between said seats and forming a fluid passageway between the extension and said plate and being in communication with said housing, said slidable plate member having a longitudinal rack bar upon the underside thereof, a shaft rotatably journalled in said bed and extending transversely of said passage, a gear fixed to said shaft in mesh with said rack bar, means for manuapae sl ally rotating said shaft to impart forward and rearward References @ited in the tile of this patent movement of said plate to vary the position of the termi- UNITED STATES FATENTS nal end of said plate with respect to the fabric pass- 1 7 ing about said fabric guide roller, and a variable speed 1,541,403 an Demoef Sept 61 1927 drive for i i u 5 2,341,392 ShlfiCkhlSfi Feb. 8, 1944 8. The structure of claim 7, wherein the upper hori- A i Kauffman i 1949 zontal extension of said housing includes an adjustable 2,928,609 Osborne 1960 plate having a tapering upper face, the terminal end of FOREIGN PATENTS which is in light contactlng engagement with fabric guided 436,223 Great Britain Oct. 3 1935 by said roller. 

